Method for controlling selection of air conditioning environmental modes according to user&#39;s requirements

ABSTRACT

A method for controlling selection of air conditioning (A/C) environmental modes according to user&#39;s requirements to provide a most comfortable A/C environment includes at least the following steps: establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes; selecting a use environmental mode; getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment; comparing the setting values of the control conditions of the selected environmental mode with the detection values and sending out control commands; and operating an A/C equipment according to the control commands. Therefore users can select a corresponding A/C environmental mode according to individual requirements. Through selection of the environmental mode and operation control of the A/C equipment, optimal setting value parameters matching with various environmental modes suitable to individual users can be obtained. The personalized setting value parameters can be downloaded from a personal information device to other A/C equipment equipped with a common communication protocol so that control of personalized comfort and energy saving can be accomplished in different building spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a method for controlling selection of air conditioning (A/C) environmental modes according to user's requirements and particularly to a method that allows users to select a corresponding environmental mode according to requirements to provide a most comfortable A/C environment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are three essential elements in a general A/C environment to achieve a comfortable condition, i.e. 1. temperature, 2. humidity, and 3. airflow (air speed). They have to be controlled within a desired range. However, in an A/C environment users have varying perception of comfort depending on activities they are engaging. For instance, in a given A/C environment users' perception of comfort could be vastly different when they are engaging in dynamic activities such as dancing or aerobic exercise, or static activities such as meditation, reading and the like. Hence a general perceived comfortable environment could be less than desirable when user's activities are different. As optimal environment is elusive, many users rely the commercials of A/C vendors and mistakenly assume that cooling air in the summer and warm air in the winter are what they can expect for a good A/C. Without getting the optimal A/C environment, user's health suffers, and a great amount of energy resources is wasted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the present invention aims to provide a method for controlling selection of A/C environmental modes according to user's requirements that allows users to select a corresponding environmental mode according to requirements to provide a most comfortable A/C environment. The method also enables the users to download individual setting value parameters through a personal information device to other A/C equipment equipped with a common communication protocol. Thereby a personalized comfortable and energy-saving environment can be achieved in different building spaces.

The method of the invention includes at least the following steps:

establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes;

selecting a use environmental mode;

getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment;

comparing the setting values of the control conditions of the selected environmental mode with the detection values, and sending out control commands; and

operating an A/C equipment according to the control commands.

At the step of “establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes”, the sources of the setting value parameters include original setting of the users, or setting of a monitor center, and setting through a personal information device. The setting values include temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed), and may also include carbon dioxide and noise level (namely the maximum allowable noise level generated by operation of the A/C equipment corresponding to the selected environmental mode).

At the step of “getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment”, the detection values include temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed), and may also include carbon dioxide and noise level (namely the noise level generated by operation of the A/C equipment).

At the step of “comparing the setting values of the control conditions of the selected environmental mode with the detection values, and sending out control commands”, the control commands may be transmitted through a personal information device such as a computer or a monitor center according to the desired A/C environmental mode of individual users.

The control method of the invention may further include a step of “sending the setting value parameters of control conditions to a personal information device”. The setting value parameters can be downloaded from a portable personal information device (such as handset, computer, PDA or the like) through a wireless transmission means to the A/C equipment equipped with a common communication protocol. Thereby control of personalized comfort and energy saving can be achieved in different building spaces.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the system of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart-1 of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a control flowchart-2 of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the operation unit of the invention.

FIG. 5 is another schematic view of the system of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the display unit of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the method for controlling selection of air conditioning (A/C) environments according to user's requirements of the invention aims to allow a user to depress a desired environmental mode button 131, 132 or 133 on an operation panel 13 according to individual requirements. For instance, by depressing the button 131, a “reading” environmental mode is selected and an indication light 134 is turned on. The invention provides a system 1 which has a control unit 11 to search and get various setting value parameters of control conditions to match the “reading” environmental mode, such as the parameters of setting values of temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed). Meanwhile, a detection unit 14 constantly detects various detection values in an A/C environment A, including detection of temperature, humidity and airflow. The control unit 11 compares the detected results with the setting values, and outputs a corresponding control command to an A/C equipment 12 to operate and control the temperature, humidity and airflow speed and distribution.

The setting values, detection values, selected environmental mode and indicating data or conditions are displayed on a display unit M which may be located on the operation panel 13, or a screen of a personal information device T1.

The displayed contents on the screen of the display unit may be presented in a various formats according to requirements. FIG. 6 illustrates a format of a bar chart shown on a display unit M′ to indicate dynamic changing situations of various control conditions.

The control method of the invention provides a procedure 2 which includes at least (referring to FIGS. 2 and 3):

establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes (step 21): preset the parameters of various setting values according to comfortable conditions of an environmental mode. The sources of the parameters include a user's original settings, or settings of a monitor center and through input of a personal information device. The parameters include temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed), and the like;

selecting a use environmental mode (step 22): referring to FIG. 3, according to user's requirements, depress one of the buttons 131, 132 and 133 on the operation unit 13 to select a desired environmental mode (step 221); the control unit 11 searches and gets corresponding setting value parameters of various control conditions of the selected environmental mode (step 222);

getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment (step 23): the detection unit 14 detects various detection values in the A/C environment A, including temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed);

comparing the setting values of the control conditions of the selected environmental mode with the detection values, and sending out control commands (step 24): the control unit 11 compares the detected values with the setting values, and outputs a control command to an A/C equipment 12; and

operating an A/C equipment according to the control commands (step 25): the A/C equipment 12 operates according to the control command, including cooling air (or warm air), water content in the air, air speed, and supplying of external fresh air to adjust the temperature, humidity, airflow and indoor air quality in the A/C environment A to meet the requirements of most comfortable conditions, and achieve effective control for saving of energy resources.

The step of “establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes” (step 21), the setting values include temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed), and may also include carbon dioxide and noise level setting values (namely the noise generated by operation of the A/C equipment 12 detected by a noise sensor 141 of the detection unit 14).

At the step of “getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment” (step 23), the detection values include temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed), and may also include detection values of carbon dioxide and noise level (namely the noise generated by operation of the A/C equipment 12).

Transmission of the control commands in the invention may be accomplished through the personal information device T1 such as a computer or a monitor center B over the control unit 11.

The control method of the invention may further include a step of “sending setting value parameters of control conditions to a personal information device” (step 26, referring to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5). The setting value parameters may be downloaded from a portable personal information device T2 (such as handset, computer, PDA or the like) through a wireless transmission means to the control unit 11 of the A/C equipment which is equipped with a common communication protocol. Therefore a personalized comfort and energy-saving control can be accomplished in different building spaces. The personal information device T2 is equipped with a wireless transmission module T21 to transmit the signals of the setting value parameters to a transceiver 135 of the A/C equipment which is equipped with the same common communication protocol. Thus the control parameters of the setting values of various environmental modes most suitable to the individual user are applicable to other building spaces. The transceiver 135 is preferably installed on the operation panel 13 (referring to FIG. 4).

In short, the control method of the invention allows users to select a desired A/C environmental mode to enjoy the most comfortable A/C environment. It can be transmitted wirelessly via a portable information device so that control of personalized comfort and energy saving can be accomplished in different building spaces. 

1. A method for controlling selection of air conditioning (A/C) environmental modes according to user's requirements comprising at least the steps of: establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes; selecting a use environmental mode; getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment; comparing the setting values of the control conditions of the selected environmental mode with the detection values and sending out control commands; and operating an A/C equipment according to the control commands.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting value at the step of establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes includes temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed).
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting value at the step of establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes includes carbon dioxide.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting value at the step of establishing setting value parameters of control conditions for various environmental modes includes noise amount.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection values at the step of getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment include detection values of temperature, humidity and airflow (air speed).
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection values at the step of getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment include detection values of carbon dioxide.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection values at the step of getting detection values of the control conditions of an A/C environment include detection values of noise amount.
 8. The method of claim 1 further including a step of sending the setting value parameters of control conditions to a personal information device by downloading from a portable personal information device via a wireless transmission means to a control unit of other A/C equipment equipped with a common communication protocol. 